Volume 34, Issue 6 (November 1989)

Fatal Accidental Enflurane Intoxication

Among reported cases of abuse of volatile anesthetics there is only one of enflurane intoxication. We report another fatal enflurance intoxication. A 21-year-old man found dead seemed to have experimented with enflurane. Three and one-half days after death high amounts of enflurane were detected in blood, brain, and subcutaneous fat. Gas chromatographic quantification revealed the following high enflurane concentrations: blood: 130 mg/l−1, brain: 350 mg/l−1, and subcutaneous fat: 100 mg/l−1. Histologic signs of drug-induced damage were lacking. No suicide intentions became known. It was concluded that the young man died of an accidental intoxication while abusing enflurane.

Author Information:

Jacob, B Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Heller, C Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Barz, J Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Bürrig, KF Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Daldrup, T Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Bonte, W Research assistant of forensic medicine, research assistant of forensic toxicology, professor of forensic toxicology, university lecturer of pathology, professor of forensic medicine, and professor and chief of department of forensic medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf,

Stock #: JFS12783J

ISSN: 0022-1198

DOI: 10.1520/JFS12783J

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Author Title Fatal Accidental Enflurane IntoxicationSymposium , 0000-00-00Committee E30